Cyclic motion control device for multi-cycle profiling machines

ABSTRACT

A device for controlling the cyclic motion of a multi-cycle profiling machine, so as to selectively actuate a cylindrical cycle, a shaping cycle, or a composite cycle, simply by adjusting the relative operative positions of two switches and the retarding stroke of a cut spool, without necessitating any change of machine parts. The two switches are related to said cut spool, a profiling slide, and a stylus.

United States Patent [1 1 Iwata [111 3,759,120 [451 Sept. 18,1973

[ CYCLIC MOTION CONTROL DEVICE FOR MULTI-CYCLE PROFILING MACHINES [75] Inventor:

[731' Assignee: Washino Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha,

Nagoya, Japan Ilaruo Iwata, Nagoya, Japan [22] Filed: I Nov. 16, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 199,132

[52] US. Cl. 82/14 A, 90/62 [51] Int. Cl B23b 3/28 [58] Field of Search 82/14 A; 90/62 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,540,330 11/1970 Bruetm, ..82/l4A 2,695,543 1 1/1954 VonZelewsky 82/14 A 2,891,436 6/1959 Corthals 3,279,288 10/1966 Mannaioni 82/14 A Primary Examiner-Leonidas Vlachos Attorney-Eric H. Waters et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A device for controlling the cyclic motion of a multicycle profiling machine, so as to selectively actuate a cylindrical cycle, a shaping cycle, or a composite cycle,

simply by adjusting the relative operative positions of two switches and the retarding stroke of a cut spool, without necessitating any change of machine parts. The two switches are related to said cut spool, a profiling slide, and a stylus.

2 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTED '3 sum 2 0r 4 Fig. 8

Fig. 10

PATENTED 3,759,120

sum 3 or 4 Fig. 5

Fig, 6

CYCLIC MOTION CONTROL DEVICE FOR MULTI-CYCLE PROFILING MACHINES This invention relates to a device for automaticallycontrolling cyclic motion of multi-cycle profilling machines which are controllable for selectively effecting a cylindrical cycle, a profiling cycle, or a composite cycle, said device comprising electric contacts mounted on the tip of a pilot spool, on the stationary portion, e.g., a slide base, which is engageable with said tip of the pilot spool in response to the reciprocation of a profiling slide, and on a stylus bracket, so that said three kinds of cycles can be selected simply by adjusting the electric operative conditions of said contacts.

Conventional multi-cycle profiling machines, which automatically cut workpieces in accordance with models or templates, use complicated mechanism for minimizing the cutting time. Such complicated mechanism for quick cutting, however, requires intricate operations at the time of exchanging the workpiece and timeconsuming adjustment for the new workpiece after the exchange. Accordingly, conventional profiling machines are not suitable for machining workpieces of different shapes, a few workpieces for each shape. More particularly, with the conventional machines, in order to set the cutting stroke and the end of axial cutting motion for each cycle of operation, it is necessary to adjust the mounting positions of a large number of dogs. The actual adjustment of such dogs is not simple. Besides, the operating cycle as set by the adjustment of the dog mounting positions often fails to produce the desired operation, due to the variation of the material of the worpiece, the sharpness of the tool edge, and the conditions of chip removal. Consequently, many dogs frequently requires readjustment after a test run.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to obviate the aforesaid difficulty of the conventional profiling machines, by simplifying the exchange of the workpiece and the setting operation.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated by referring to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a multi-cycle profiling machine, incorporating a cyclic motion control device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the device according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of a stylus bracket to be used in the cyclic motion control device according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged view of the device of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of the manner in which the device of the invention is set for efiecting cylindrical cycle operations;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of the manner in which the device of the present invention is set for effecting profiling cycle operations;

FIG; 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of the manner in which the device of the present invention is set for effecting composite cycle operations;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view, showing the cylindrical cycle;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view, showing the profiling cycle;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram, showing the composite cycle; and

FIG. I l is an electric circuit diagram of the cycle motion control device according to the present invention.

Like parts are designated by like numerals and symbols throughout the drawings.

In FIGS. 1 to 4, a reciprocating table I carries a longitudinal feed table 2, and a slide base 3 is secured to the feed table 2. The slide base 3 has a bent end 4, to which a piston rod 5 is secured. The piston rod 5 is inte' grally connected to a piston 6 having a guide taper 7, and the piston rod 5 is fitted in the profiling cylinder 9 of a profiling slide 8 so as to define a front chamber a and a rear chamber b in the prifiling cylinder 9. The extended portion 9a of the profiling cylinder 9 is slidably mounted on the slide base 3, so as to slide in the direction of the arrow x. A minor cylinder 10 is formed in the proximity of the front end portion of the profiling cylinder 9 in such a manner that the longitudinal axial center line of the minor cylinder 10 intersects the longitudinal axial center line of the profiling cylinder 9 substantially at right angles. A plunger 11 is fitted in the minor cylinder 10, so as to define a front chamber c and a rear chamber d, and a contact rod 12 connected to the plunger 11 extends through the front chamber c into the front chamber a of the profiling cylinder 9. The tip of the contact rod 12 faces the guide taper 7 of the piston 6. A bias spring 13 is disposed between the plunger 11 and the wall of the rear chamber d, and a dial shaft 15 having a cut-adjusting dial l4 integrally formed at the outer end thereof extends through the rear chamber d and threadedly engages the plunger 11 at the inner end thereof. Thus, the plunger 11 is moved in the'longitudinal axial direction thereof in response to the turning of the adjusting dial 14, so as to steplessly adjust the position of its tip in the front chamber a of the profiling cylinder 9.

A pilot valve cylinder 16 is formed in the profiling slide 8 in parallel with the profiling cylinder 9. The pilot valve cylinder 16 has an open front end, four annular grooves 17 to 20 formed on the peripheral surface thereof, and an enlarged rear end 21. A pilot spool 22, which is slidably fitted in the pilot valve cylinder 16, comprises a body 23 and a plug 24 threadedly connected to the body. A probe 25 is secured to the front end surface of the body 23. The body 23 is hollow, so that it defines an inner cylindrical space 26 therein. The peripheral wall of the inner cylindrical space 26 has a port 27, which is normally communicating with the annular groove 18 but capable of communicating the two annular grooves 17 and 18 upon forward movement of the body 23, and theperipheral wall also has two holes 28 and 29 normally communicating with the annular grooves 19 and 20, respectively. The rear end of the body 23 is closed by threadedly mounting the plug 24 thereto, which plug has an outward flange 30 at the rearmost end thereof. A sliding piece 32 having an inward flange 32 is disposed at the back of the plug 24, so as to restrict the forward movement of the pilot spool 22 by the engagement of the outward flange 30 of the plug 24 of the spool 22 with the inward flange 31 of the sliding piece 32. A tension spring 33 is inserted between the front surface of the sliding piece 32 and the front edge of the expanded rear end 21 of the pilot valve cylinder 16. A compression spring 34 is inserted between the rear surface of the plug 24 and a recessed portion of the sliding piece 32. A solenoid 35 is mounted on the outer surface of the profiling slide 8 in alignment with the pilot valve cylinder 16, so that a moving iron core 36 of the solenoid 35 is engageable with the rear surface of the sliding piece 32.

A cut spool 37 is slidably fitted in the inner cylindrical space 26 of the pilot spool 22, so as to define a fluid reservoir 39 at the front end of the cylindrical space 26 and a hydraulic chamber 40 at the rear end of the cylindrical space 26. The hole 29 acts as a drainage port communicating with the hydraulic chamber 40. The cut spool 37 has a port 41 formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof so as to communicate with the inside thereof through a hole 42, and the port 41 is also communicable with the hole 28 of the pilot spool 22. A T-shaped hole 43 is bored in the cut spool 37 for communicating the fluid reservoir 39 with the hydraulic chamber 40, and that portion of the hole 43 which communicates with the aforesaid hole 42 through the wall forms an expanded portion 44. A check valve 45 consisting of a steel ball coacting with a tubular valve seat and an urging spring is disposed on the fluid reservoir side of the T-shaped hole 43. A forcibly opening means 46 for the check valve 45 is disposed on that side of the T-shaped hole 43 which faces the hydraulic pressure chamber 40, said opening means 46 consisting of a flanged small piston fitted in said hydraulic pressure chamber side of the T-shaped hole 43 and a pin secured to the small piston for urging the steel ball of the check valve against the urging spring thereof. A tension spring 37' is disposed between the rear end of the pilot spool 37 and the plug 24, the elastic force of the spring 37 being greater than that of the aforesaid spring 33.

A separate safety cylinder 47 has passage opening 48 adn 48' communicating with the annular groove 18 of the pilot valve cylinder 16. The safety cylinder 47 has additional passage openings 49 and 50, which communicate with the annular grooves 19 and 20 of the pilot valve cylinder 16, respectively. The passage openings 48, 48', and'49 are formed on the peripheral side surface of the safety cylinder 47, but the passage opening 50 is located on the rear end surface thereof. A spring 51 is disposed between the front end of the safety cylinder 47 and a spool 52 slidably fitted therein, so as to normally block the passage opening 50 with the spool 52 by the elasticity of the spring 51. The spool 52 has a port 53 formed on the peripheral surface thereof and normally communicating with the passage opening 49. A T-shaped hole 54 is bored through the spool 52 for communicating the front wall of the spool 52 to the port 53 thereof, and a check valve 55 is disposed within the T-shaped hole 54 for blocking the fluid flow from the front surface of the spool.

A cut-rest spool 57 is fitted in a cylinder portion 56 of the profiling slide 8, and an urging spring 58 fitted in the cylinder portion 56 engages the front end of the spool 57 and biases the spool 57 in a direction away from the slide 8. The rear end of the cut-reset spool 57 is engageable with the moving iron 60 of a solenoid 59. A port 61 is formed on the peripheral surface of the spool 57.

A fluid inlet 62 receiving fluid from a fluid pump not shown communicates with the front chamber a and the rear chamber b of the profiling cylinder 9 through passages 63 and 64, respectively. A throttle valve 65 is disposed at an intermediate portion of the passage 64 communicating with the fluid inlet 62. The front chamber c of the mirror cylinder communicates with the annular groove 18 and a fluid outlet 68 through a passage 67. The rear chamber d of the cylinder 10 communicates with the annular groove 19 through a passage 66 which is connected to the passage 67 through a check valve 69. The rear chamber b of the profiling cylinder 9 communicates with the annular groove 17 through a passage 70. A passage 71 communicates the annular groove 18 with the fluid outlet 68, and a branch 72 of the passage 71 communicates with the cylinder portion 56. The rear chamber b of the profiling cylinder 9 communicates with the cylinder portion 56 through a passage 73. The annular groove 20 communicates with the cylinder portion 56 through another passage 74.

When the cut-reset spool 57 is at such a position in the cylinder portion 56 as to communicate the branched passage 72 with the passage 74 through its port 61, the passage 73 is blocked by the spool 57. On the other hand, when the cut-reset spool 57 is forced in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2 by the moving iron 60 of the solenoid 59, the branched passage 72 is blocked, while the passages 73 and 74 are communicated to the port 61 of the spool 57.

The pilot valve cylinder 16 has an arm 75, which pivotally holds a stylus bracket 76 connected thereto by a shaft 77. A stylus 73 is secured to the stylus bracket 76. The stylus bracket 76 also carries an adjusting rod 79 in an adjustable manner, so as to cause the rod 79 to face the contact lever 38 of the cut-spool 37.

A tool holder 80 for holding a cutting tool 81 is mounted at the tip of the extended portion 9a of the profiling cylinder 9. A contact portion 82 is formed at one end of the slide base 3, so as to face the contact lever 38. A workpiece 84 is to be machined after the shape of a template (or a model) 83.

With the aforesaid construction, an electric contact piece 91 is secured to the tip of the contact lever 38 of the cut spool 37, as shown in the enlarged scale of view of FIG. 4. The contact piece 91 is electrically insulated from the lever 38. Similarly, electric contact pieces 92 and 93 are secured to the tip of the projected contact portion 82 of the slide base 3 and the tip of the adjusting rod 79 of the stylus bracket 76, respectively, while electrically insulating the contact pieces 92 and 93 from the contact portion 82 and the adjusting rod 79. Thus, the contact pieces 91 and 92 form a switch 81, while the contact pieces 91 and 93 form another switch S2.

In the profiling machine, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the magnitude of the one cutting stroke can be steplessly adjusted in a given range, for instance 0 to 25 mm, by adjusting the degree of projection of the contact rod 12. The actual adjustment of the cutting stroke can be accomplished by retarding the cut spool 37 into the pilot spool 22 for each cutting cycle. The cutting stroke can be determined by the magnitude of the movement of the plunger 11, which is interlinked with the aforesaid adjustment of the degree of projection of the contact rod 12 in the minor cylinder 10. More particularly, the rear chamber d of the minor cylinder 10 is provided with-non-pressurized fluid from the passage 67 communicating with the fluid outlet 68. When the tip or the lower end of the contact rod 12 is raised by a preset distance, in response to its contact with the guide taper 7 of the profiling cylinder piston 6, the plunger 11 is raised accordingly, so that the fluid in the chamber d is delivered to the enlarged diameter portion 44 of the cut spool 37 through the passage 66, the annular groove 19, the hole 28, the port 41, and the hole 42. This fluid further proceeds to the fluid reservoir 39 through thecheck valve 45 and the passage 43. As a result, the-cut spool 37 retards into the pilot spool 22 against the elasticity of the spring 37. Thus, the automatic adjustment of the cutting stroke is accomplished. Such adjustment is conducted automatically each time the profiling cylinder 9 retards at a rate of several cycles to 20 cycles. The aforesaid adjustment of the cutting stroke must be resumed so as to cut a new workpiece. To this end, the cut reset spool 57 is forced in the direction of the arrow of FIG. 2 by the actuation of the solenoid 59, so as to transfer the fluid under pressure in the rear chamber b of the profiling cylinder 9 toward the fluid pressure chamber 40 of the pilot spool 22 through the passages 73, 74, the annular groove 20, and the hole 29. Thus, the piston 46 is so actuated as to open the check valve 45, and the fluid in the fluid reservoir 39 is drained to the fluid outlet 68 through the hole 42, the port 41, the annular groove 19, the passage opening 49,.the port 53 and the T-shaped passage 54 of spool 53 of the safety cylinder 47, its passage opening 48, the annular groove 18, and the passage 71.

The relations among the contact lever 38, the contact portion 82,-and the adjusting rod 79 are selectively modified, depending on which of the cylindrical cycle, the profiling cycle, and the composite cycle is selected, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7.

Referring to FIG. 5 the cylindrical cycle is to machine a cylindrical workpiece 84a, so as to form steplike different diameter portions thereon. In accordance with the different diameters, different cutting cyclic motions, e.g. first to fourth cutting cyclic motions, are undertaken, which are followed by a last or fifth finishing cyclic motion for continuously cutting different diameter portions. When this cylindrical cycle is selected, the adjusting rod 79 is retarded as shown in FIG. 8; namely, the contact piece 93 is spaced from the contact piece 91 by a distance T, which distance T is greater than the spacing t between the tip of the probe 25 and a point p on the stylus bracket 76 in alignment with the probe 25, i.e., T t.

The profiling cycle is to machine a workpiece 84b having different diameter portions substantially along its periphery, as shown in FIG. 6. In this case, third and fourth machining cyclic motions are for finishing. The adjustment of the adjusting rod 79 for the profiling cycle is shown in FIG. 9; namely, the contact piece 91 never comes in touch with the contact piece 92, and the distance T from the contact piece 91 to the tip of the probe 25 is greater than the aforesaid distance t between the tip of the probe 25 and the point p on the stylus bracket 76, i.e., T' t.

Referring to FIG. 7, the composite cycle is for such a workpiece 840 which is, for instance, suitable for first and second machining cyclic motions of the aforesaid cylindrical type and third to fifth machining cyclic motions of the aforesaid profiling type. FIG. 10 shows the position of the adjusting rod 79 for the composite cycle: namely, the contact piece 92 is further extended toward the contact piece 91 than the contact piece 93, and the distance T" between the contact pieces 92 and 93 is smaller than the aforesaid distance t between the tip of the probe 25 and the point p on the stylus bracket 76, i.e., T" t.

The aforesaid machining cycles will now be described in furtherdetail, by referring to the electric circuit diagram of FIG. 11.

Cylindrical Cycle:

Upon depression of a start switch S3, a main shaft circuit 101 is closed for actuating a relay CR4 to drive a main shaft, so as to rotate the workpiece 840. At the same time, a timer circuit 102 is closed for actuating a timer TR. The two circuits 101 and 102 are held closed by a contact of the aforesaid relay CR4 in the timer circuit. A forward profiling circuit 103 is also closed by a contact of the relay CR4. Accordingly, the solenoid 35 is actuated for pushing the pilot spool 22 to the left, as seen in FIG. 2, so as to communicate the two passages and 61 through the port 27. As a result, the pressurized fluid, which was delivered from the fluid inlet 62 to the front and rear chambers a and b of the profiling cylinder 9 for retarding the profiling cylinder 9 by the difference of the fluid pressure acting areas on opposite sides of the piston 6, is now drained from the rear chamber b to the fluid outlet 68 through the now communicated passages 70 and 71. Thus, the pressurized fluid is present only in the front chamber a, and the profiling slide 8 is forwarded. As the profiling slide 8 is forwarded, the tip of the contact rod 38 is urged against the contact portion 82 of the slide base 3, so as to close the switch S1. Upon the closing of the switch S1, the profiling slide comes to rest. At this moment, the cutting tool 81, whose position is preadjusted, reaches the first cyclic motion line of FIG. 5.

The stylus 78 begins its profiling action in cooperation with the profiling slide 8 only after the contact lever 38 or the probe 25 comes in contact with the stylus bracket 76 (at the adjusting rod 79 or at the point p) so as to cause the stylus 78 to come in contact with the template (or model) 83. Accordingly, at the aforesaid moment of the arrival of the cutting tool 81 at the first cyclic motion line, even if the stylus 78 contacts the template 83, any effective profiling operation does not take place, because neither the contact lever 38 nor the probe 25 is in contact with the stylus bracket 76. In response to the closure of the switch S1, a retardation control circuit 104 for the reciprocating table is completed for actuating a relay CR3, so as to open its normally closed contacts in a retardation order circuit 105 and a cut confirmation circuit 106. The timer TR is set for the time necessary for the forward movement of the profiling slide 8 required for the forwarding of the cutting tool 81 at the beginning of the last cyclic motion, so that its setting is over soon after the aforesaid moment of the closure of the switch S1, so as to close its contact in the forward order circuit 107 for the reciprocating table. Thus, a clutch auxiliary relay CR5 is actuated for completing a clutch circuit 108 by its contact. As a clutch MC (FIG. 1) is engaged, the feeding screw of the reciprocating table 1 is operatively connected to the main shaft, for turning the feeding screw in a direction to forward the reciprocating table 1 to the left in FIG. 1.

As a result, the first cyclic motion for cutting the workpiece 84a is started. When the stylus 78 comes in contact with a stepped surface of the template 83 at the left end of the first cyclic motion, the stylus 78 is urged rearwardly together with the stylus bracket, and its point p contacts the probe 25 for retarding the pilot valve spool 22. Thus, the switch S1 is opened. Accordingly, the retardation control circuit 104 for the reciprocating table 1 is opened for de-energizing the relay CR3 to close a retardation order circuit 105. Thereby, a relay CR1 is actuated and its self-hold circuit 109 is closed. At the same time, a retarding circuit 1 for the reciprocating table is closed while opening its forward order circuit 107. Thus, the relay CR5 is de-energized for opening the clutch circuit 108. Accordingly, the clutch MC is disengaged. The closure of the retarding circuit 110 energizes a relay CR8 for actuating a fast return motor MS (FIG. 1), which reversely turns the feed screw for starting quick retardation of the reciprocating table 1 to its original position. The relay CR1, which is then actuated by the self-hold circuit, opens the forwarding circuit 103, to de-energize the solenoid 35 for freeing the sliding piece 32 from the moving iron core 36. Accordingly, the pilot spool 22 retards, as shown in FIG. 2, for interrupting the communication between the passages 70 and 71, so as to retard the profiling slide 8.

When the reciprocating table 1 returns to its original position, a limit switch LS1 (FIG. 1) is turned on for closing a cycle resumption control circuit 111, so that a relay CR6 is energized to interrupt the reciprocating table retarding circuit 110. Thus, the fast return motor MS is stopped while closing a brake control circuit 1 12, for actuating a relay CR7 which energizes a brake circuit 113 to actuate a brake MB (FIG. 1). Thus, the reciprocating table 1 is prevented from over running.

When the profiling slide 8 comes toward the end of its retardation, the plunger 11 is actuated, so as to retard the cut spool 37 and the contact lever 38 in the aforesaid manner for setting the cutting stroke of the next following cutting cyclic motion.

The throttle valve 65 is set in such a manner that the profiling slide 8 completes its retardation and becomes ready for the next forward movement before the aforesaid closing of the limit switch LS1. On the other hand, the timer circuit 102 is closed upon the energization of the relay CR6 of the cycle resumption control circuit 111, so as to reset the timer TR for resuming its count. The retardation order circuit 105 is opened upon the closing of its contact, so as to de-energize the relay CR1. Thus, the forward profiling circuit 103 is closed by the closing of the normally closed contact of the relay CR1. Thus, the second to fourth cyclic motions for machining the workpiece 84a are effected as described above by referring to FIG. 8.

When the final cyclic motion is about to start, the contact lever 38 is retarded furthest for purposes of the final cyclic motion, so that the probe 25 comes in contact with the point p of the stylus bracket 76 in response to the forward movement of the profiling slide 8 prior to the closing of the switch S1. Thus, the stylus 78 is urged to the template 83 for establishing operative contact therewith. As a result, the normally closed relay contact CR3, which is connected to both of the retardation order circuit 105 and the cut confirmation circuit 106, is not opened despite the fact it was opened in the initial stage of the first to the fourth cyclic motions. Accordingly, as soon as the present time of the timer TR is over, the relay CR2 is actuated, and the self-hold circuit 114 is completed. Simultaneously, the retardation order circuit 105 is opened, because the normally closed contact CR2 is now opened, so that the actuation of the relay CR1 is blocked. Therefore, in the final cyclic motion, the on-off operations of the switch S1 and the retardation order circuit 105 do not take place, so that the stylus 78 is always in operative contact with the temperate 83 for effecting the profilemachining as will be described hereinafter referring to the profiling cycle. Finally, the reciprocating table 1 comes to the extreme left end of its travel, so as to actu' ate the limit switch LS2 (FIG. 1). Consequently, the relay CR1 is closed, and it is held as actuated by the self-hold circuit 109. Thereafter, the same operation as in the preceding cyclic motions in response to the actuation of the relay CR1 by the opening of the switch 81 takes place, for causing the retardations of the profiling slide 8 and the reciprocating table 1. At this moment, the relays CR1 and CR2 are simultaneously actuated, and their normally closed contacts which are connected in parallel in the main shaft circuit 101 are all turned off, so that the main shaft circuit 101 is interrupted for de-energizing the relay CR4. Thus, the normally closed contact CR4 in the reset circuit is closed for completing that circuit 115, so that the solenoid 59 is actuated to move the cut reset spool 57. Thus, the fluid in the fluid reservoir 39 is drained in the aforesaid manner, for automatically returning the cut spool 37 to its extended position.

Profiling Cycle:

The cycle motions of the profiling cycle, as shown in FIG. 6, are similar to the final cyclic motion of the aforesaid cylindrical cycle, except that the switch S2 is kept as closed in all the cyclic motions'of the profiling cycle but its last cyclic motion. Thus, the relay CR1 is not actuated until the reciprocating table I reaches the limit switch LS2. In the final cyclic motion of the profiling cycle, the probe 25 comes in contact with the point p of the stylus bracket 76 for preventing the switch S2 from closing, so as to hold the operation of the relay CR1 until the reciprocating table 1 reaches the limit switch LS2. In both of the cylindrical and profiling cycles, the closing of the limit switch LS2 causes the retardations of the reciprocating table 1 and the profiling slide 8, and the reset circuit 115 is completed in the final cyclic motion as in the case of the cylindrical cycle.

Composite Cycle:

The composite cycle, as shown in FIG. 7, includes first and second cyclic motions similar to the first and second cyclic motions of the aforesaid cylindrical cycle, and third to fifth cyclic motions similar to the corresponding cyclic motions of the profiling cycle. For the composite cycle, the disposition of FIG. 10 is used, so that the switch S1 and S2 are alternatingly closed in the third and fourth cyclic motions of the composite cycle for keeping the reciprocating table control circuit 104 as closed, so as to establish the same circuit conditions as the aforesaid profiling cycle wherein the switch S2 is kept as closed for all the cyclic motions except the final cyclic motions when the limit switch LS2 is closed. The final cyclic motion of the composite cycle is identical with the corresponding final cyclic motion of the cylindrical and profiling cycles.

As described in the foregoing disclosure, with the multi-cycle profiling machine according to the present invention, the selection of the basic operative cycles, namely the cylindrical cycle, the profiling cycle, and the composite cycle, can be accomplished simply by setting the disposition as shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 and the cutting stroke of the cut spool, without necessitating any exchange of machine components.

Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed:

1. A cyclic motion control device for multi-cycle profiling machines, said device comprising a stylus;

a cut spool engageable with the stylus, said out spool being mounted in a pilot spool in an axially movable fashion;

a profiling slide; means for cyclically reciprocating said profiling slide for effecting cutting operation; means for relating the retardation of said profiling slide to said rearmost position thereof to said cut spool; means to retard said cut spool by a controllable distance corresponding to the cutting stroke of a cutting tool in the next following cyclic motion; a switch consisting of a contact on the tip of said cut spool and a coacting contact on a fixed portion of said profiling slide, said fixed portion being immovable relative to said profiling slide; another switch consisting of said contact on the tip of said cut spool and a coacting contact on a stylus bracket holding said stylus; and a probe secured to one of said pilot spool and said stylus bracket, so as to selectively disable the actuation of said two switches at the time of said retardation of said cut spool; whereby one of a cylindrical cycle, a profiling cycle, and a composite cycle can be selectively set by adjusting the actuating positions of said two switches relative to each other and adjusting said retarding distance of said cut spool.

2. A cyclic motion control device according to claim 1, wherein said probe is mounted on said pilot spool. 

1. A cyclic motion control device for multi-cycle profiling machines, said device comprising a stylus; a cut spool engageable with the stylus, said cut spool being mounted in a pilot spool in an axially movable fashion; a profiling slide; means for cyclically reciprocating said profiling slide for effecting cutting operation; means for relating the retardation of said profiling slide to said rearmost position thereof to said cut spool; means to retard said cut spool by a controllable distance corresponding to the cutting stroke of a cutting tool in the next following cyclic motion; a switch consisting of a contact on the tip of said cut spool and a coacting contact on a fixed portion of said profiling slide, said fixed portion being immovable relative to said profiling slide; another switch consisting of said contact on the tip of said cut spool and a coacting contact on a stylus bracket holding said stylus; and a probe secured to one of said pilot spool and said stylus bracket, so as to selectively disable the actuation of said two switches at the time of said retardation of said cut spool; whereby one of a cylindrical cycle, a profiling cycle, and a composite cycle can be selectively set by adjusting the actuating positions of said two switches relative to each other and adjusting said retarding distance of said cut spool.
 2. A cyclic motion control device according to claim 1, wherein said probe is mounted on said pilot spool. 